One of the most productive human (at least I think he is) beings from Mater Terra’s soil must be Henrik Björkk aka Herr Kremator aka Nordvargr. A limited selection: Pouppée Fabrikk, Folkstorm, Körperwelten, Hydra Head 9, All Hail The Transcending Ghost, MZ.412, Kongo, Toroidh, many collaborations (with e.g.
I am, to be honest, not that much ‘into’ Hardcore / Punk / D-Beat. Okay, I can appreciate it, but I am not exactly a ‘fan’. However, the Belgian (or in extension: the whole Benelux) scene might be underestimated on international scale, but there is a very vivid and strong upcoming scene going on. Actually, that’s the case since decades, yet lately the scene exponentially sort of explodes.
Colossus Morose are a pretty young duo, formed in 2015 by C.J.. The band nowadays consists of German multi-instrumentalist Christoph ‘C.J.’ Roth (guitar player of Heavy / Thrash band Transnight) and Swiss vocalist Jean-Claude ‘J.C.’ of Black Sputum-fame (currently living in Norway). Seclusion is Colossus Morose’s first official recording, recorded, mixed and mastered in both Norway (Tromsø) and Germany (Hanover) in between Winter 2016 and Winter 2017.
Zinc Room is a Russian outfit by Alexander ‘I’ Syromyatnikov (the same person who runs Evil Dead Productions), assisted once again by Andrey Kein (both as session musician as being the long-time mixer / master; also known from e.g. Corona Barathri, Church Of Howling Dog, Sol Mortuus, Chaotic Bound Systems, Carved Image Of Emptiness). Both are (were) formerly active as Prognostic Zero.
Brahdr’uhz are a very young yet quite productive outfit from Swiss, run by Brahz (voices, strings, percussion) and assisted by drummer Penetranalattack Deflagramicide. Yeah, why not… The project released several things in not that much time, especially independently, sometimes in partnership with Underground labels (Albanian Medieval Werewolf Antiquarium Label).
My first acquaintance with Inhume was in 2000, when I bought this Dutch band’s debut full length Decomposing From Inside (tasty title it is!), released via French (and defunct?) label Bones Brigade Records (FYI: it will be released soon on vinyl, by the way). Throughout the years Inhume did record few more albums and material for compilations / tributes and splits, yet quite limited in quantity (four albums in a decade).
For about a decade, Swedish sound artist Michael Idehall creates a very own-faced form of Industrial under his own name. before, he was active under different pseudonyms too, but as Michael Idehall, this guy from Gothenburg is the most successful one. He always ‘tries towards manifesting an opening to a world beyond mundane. The creative process involves honing in on the nexuses between the flows of mind, matter and spirit. Nexuses which exist inside the human being, but also in the outer world, as conglomerations of energy and matter.
The Post / Sludge genre is permanently growing, and for sure the French scene is one of the most prominent ones worldwide. One of my most beloved acts from France is Dirge, hailing from Paris, and active for almost twenty-five years. In the earliest years, the band brought some kind of industrialised and psych-grinding Metal (also quite ‘popular’ in their home country), yet throughout the years they evolved a lot. Dirge recorded and released six albums in the meantime, but the last one, Hyperion (*), was released four and a half years ago.
I do remember that I did end my review for Malthusian’s debut demo (which was called MMXIII; (*)) with: ‘I NEED MORE! When can we expect a full album? SOON, I hope!’ Okay, to be honest, I did not remember this anymore – I just read it again a couple of minutes ago – but that is of no importance, haha. But I did mean it back then. I was craving for more, much more. Apparently, this Irish band had an EP in 2015 (Below The Hengiform, also via Invictus Productions), but it never crossed my path, unfortunately.
When Satan Maleficarium were put asleep, bass player Vixxer and screamer Necro decided to start a new outfit. Together with drummer Krilin and lead guitar player Cynic (Necro now does the rhythm guitars too), they formed Akelarre, which means something like ‘witches’ sabbath’ in the Basque language. This Mexican horde recorded some demonstrational recordings, and in their local scene, they gained a steamy live reputation.
